SOL

TEST TAKING TIPS

BEFORE THE TEST

Sleep

One key to doing well on the SOL TESTS is getting enough sleep the night before. Your mind and body need rest after a busy day. Most people need about 8 hours of sleep. You may need a little more or a little less. If you are well rested, you will be better able to concentrate and remember information.

Getting Dressed

Wear comfortable clothing and dress for the temperature of your classroom. You may want to dress in layers. This way you’ll be ready if it is warm or cool in the room.

Glasses

If you are supposed to wear glasses, wear them!!!

THE DAY OF THE TEST

Now that you are well rested and are wearing comfortable clothes, let’s talk about food…

The importance of a good meal

Food is what fuels your body and mind. That is why eating a well-balanced breakfast is one way to prepare for the SOL TESTS.

CONTROLLING ANXIETY

You can control some of your anxiety by being prepared for the test. Getting a good night’s sleep, eating a healthy breakfast and wearing comfortable clothes are a good start.

Being prepared for the test also means that you have the supplies you need. Be sure to bring your #2 pencils and a good eraser.

MORE ABOUT ANXIETY

Some people get anxious at the thought of taking a big test. Ask yourself the following questions:

Do you get nervous before a test?
Do you forget things when you take a test?
Do you ever get so nervous that you have trouble breathing?
Do you panic if you don’ t know an answer?
Do you sit down at a test thinking you will not do well?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may have test anxiety. Here are some ways you can control your anxiety during the SOL Tests:

Answer the questions you know first. Skip the questions that are giving you trouble. You can always go back to them later. You may write in the test book so make a mark next to any question you skip. This will help when you go back to it later.

Take a break for a few seconds. Take a deep breath (don’t forget to let it out)! Change your position. Stretch your arms, hands and neck. Make sure that you do this quietly. Then go back to taking the test.

Don’t pay attention to anyone else. Everyone works at his or her own pace. Remember that there is no prize for finishing first.

Be considerate of other test takers. Be careful not to make any disturbing noises or motions.

KEEP A POSITIVE ATTITUDE!!

- A positive attitude helps you do your best in any

activity.

- Tell yourself you will do well on the test.

- Imagine yourself going through the test easily and

answering the questions correctly.

THIS IS A TEST, THIS IS ONLY A TEST.

Listen carefully to all directions. Ask questions if you need to.
Be alert, but calm. Panicking will not help.
Take your time! You have the entire school day to take the test if necessary. Rushing may cause you to make a silly mistake.
Have all necessary materials such as pencils and erasers. If the test allows you to use a calculator (GRADE 5 ONLY) or a ruler, your teacher will provide this for you.
Pay very close attention to the sample questions. This is the time to ask for help if you do not understand something.

NOW LET’S TALK ABOUT TAKING THE TEST

Read the entire direction line twice.

· It is important to read the entire direction line

carefully so you know exactly what to do.

· Some questions will tell you to look for the answer choice that is correct.

· Some questions will tell you to look for the answer choice that has a mistake.

Look for CUE WORDS

A CUE WORD is a word in the test question that tells you what to look for in the answer.

Sometimes cue words are written in all CAPITAL LETTERS. They may be printed in bold, italics, or underlined.

Some cue words you may see on the SOL Test:

---------------------------------------------------------------------

NOT For both of these words, you are to find

EXCEPT the answer that is unlike the others

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MOST If you see one of these words, you are to

BEST find the answer that is the most logical

or makes the most sense.

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LEAST When you see this word, you are to find the

answer that is the least logical or makes the

least sense.

Examples:

All of the following are true except:

Which of these words does not belong in the group?

Choose the best answer.

FILLING IN YOUR ANSWER DOCUMENT

There is a correct way to fill in your answer document:

(1) You must use a #2 pencil.

(2) The pencil mark should say inside the oval.

(3) Do not mark more than one answer.

(4) If you change an answer, make sure you have erased the wrong answer completely.

(5) Do not mark your answer too lightly.

(6) Erase any stray marks.

MARKING YOUR ANSWERS

Make sure that you mark the answer for the question you are working on. ( If you are answering question #1, make sure to mark the space for #1)

If you skip a question, make sure that you also skip the answer space for that question. If you don’t you will be answering questions in the wrong place on the answer sheet.

In addition, make sure that you are marking your answers in the correct section of the test. If you are taking the MATH section of the test, make sure your answers are in the MATH section of the answer document and so on.

SPEAKING OF MATH…

Read all problems carefully. Look for key words, numbers, figures or graphs. Look carefully at all answers.

Pay attention to the operational signs! + - X ÷

Make sure that you do what the sign says. Do not work problems in your head. Use your test book or scratch paper to do problems. This can help you avoid a careless mathematical error.

Also, don’t forget to look for key words to tell you what kind of computation is needed.

- Less than

- Least

- Greatest

- Greater than

- Nearest

- All together

- Left over…are some examples

GENERAL STRATEGIES TO HELP YOU ON THE SOL TESTS

1. READ THE ENTIRE QUESTION.

It is very important that you take the time to read the entire question. If you don’t you may miss important information and misunderstand the question.

2. READ ALL OF THE ANSWER CHOICES.

Just as it is important to read the entire test question, it is also important to read and carefully consider all of the answer choices. Remember that for each question, you are looking for the BEST answer. If you do not read all of the answers, you may pick a possible answer, but not the BEST answer.

3. TRY EVERY ANSWER.

Try out every answer. By considering each answer, you can be more certain that you choose the BEST answer. The first answer may sound good, but another choice may be a better answer.

4. PROCESS OF ELIMINATION

If you don’t know the answer to a question, eliminate any answers that you know are incorrect. Doing this will help you narrow down your choices. The fewer choices left mean a better chance of answering the question correctly. Answering even two or three more questions correctly could mean the difference in passing or not passing the test.

5. GUESSING

Guessing should not be the first strategy you try. You should only guess after you have tried other strategies.

By reading the question carefully, you may be able to eliminate one or two of the choices. Make your best guess by choosing the answer that makes the most sense to you.

6. CHECK YOUR WORK

Make sure you have answered every question and have chosen only one answer for each question. Also, erase any stray marks on the page.

7. USE YOUR TOOLS!

If your teacher has had you practice using a highlighter on regular tests, you may use one on the SOL tests. Some students also use an index card to mark their place while reading or keep their place on the answer document. Use whatever tools that are available to you during the test.

Want to know more? Visit the Virginia Department of Education’s website at www.pen.k12.va.us

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